Book Review: Timeless Romance Anthology

I was so excited to see new novellas offered by some of my favorite historical fiction writers all in one place.  The Timeless Romance Anthology offers six novellas by six best-selling authors.  My favorite Regency romance author, Sarah Eden had the first story, The Road to Cavan Town, and it did not disappoint.  She has a way of completely engrossing me in the setting and time period while making me love the characters.  Sarah has a new book out this month, too, and I will be first in line to get it.  Her story in the anthology is about Alice Wheatley who walks to town with Isaac Dancy as he's courting the beautiful Miss Sophia Kilchrest.  Alice has come to appreciate and admire Isaac as they walk and talk together about their dreams and hopes for life and she knows that he deserves someone better than Sophia.  But does he see her as anything more than a friend?  Isaac looks forward to his time with Alice, and knows she is someone special.  But can she be someone special for him?  A sweet romance that really starts the anthology out on the right foot.

It Happened Twelfth Night by Heidi Ashworth was next and it is about Luisa and Percy.  Percy is the son of a baronet and Luisa is the daughter of the gatekeeper at the estate, but despite their differences in station, they have fallen in love with each other.  Percy makes her promise to wait for him to come back from his trip abroad and Luisa does, but when Percy comes back everything is different.  Her heart is breaking until a mysterious stranger takes an interest in her.  From that moment on, Luisa knows her life will never be the same.

An Unexpected Proposal by Annette Lyon is next.  Annette has been well-known for her historicals and she paints a vivid picture of a wood camp in 1880 Utah.  Caroline is there to help with the cooking and serving to help raise money for her sick sister, but one of the men takes an interest in her that she does not share.  When events get out of hand and his interest turns to to an incident that leaves Caroline reeling, she can only turn to her childhood friend James who is also at the camp.  It becomes obvious that James has feelings for her, but Caroline doesn't know if she feels more than friendship for him.  A story of love and friendship and where the line blurs.

The fourth story is Carols on the Green by Joyce DiPastena.  Joyce is my favorite medieval writer and I loved this story of Isabel and Lucian.  I sincerely hope she does a full story of them since the characters were so well done it left me wanting more, even when the story wrapped up.  Isabel has told her father she will choose a husband by Epiphany and has several suitors to choose from.  None are as dashing as Lucian, however, but he is definitely off-limits until the incident at the oak tree forces Isabel to take a second look at this dashing knight.  Love, love, love these two!

The fifth story is A Winter's Knight by Donna Hatch.  I don't think I'd read anything by Donna Hatch before and this was a sweet romance. Clarissa has never been to Wyckburg Castle but she has heard the stories of how it is cursed and how all the earls murdered their wives.  When Clarissa and her Aunt Tilly are caught in a storm and must take refuge at Wyckburg, Caroline has the opportunity to get to the bottom of all the rumors of curses and murder, especially when she finds out her own family has a pivotal role in the curse over Wyckburg.  But will the current dashing earl accept her offer of help or will he see her only as an enemy?

The last story is A Fortunate Exile by Heather Moore.  Lila has created a scandal for her family by falling in love with the wrong man and she is sent away to her aunt's until it blows over.  Her aunt is quite severe with her and Lila doesn't know if she will ever be able to go on living there until Peter Weathers steps in to help.   Peter is kind, but has his own worries.  They lean on each other for support, but can Lila trust her judgment when it comes to men?

I liked these stories because while they are all different, they all are romantic and easy to read.  It's like a little pick-me-up to leave a smile on your face in just a short amount of time.  I usually don't read novellas because I always want more, but in this case, overall, it seemed just about right.  My only complaint was there was one story which needed one more editing pass. There were extra words in the sentences, easy fixes for things like, "she forgot to breath," "his nostrils flaired" and "his hand threated through her hair."  I think the only reason this issue stood out is because all the rest were near perfect and this one had a lot of errors which took me out of the story a bit.  It could be the review copy wasn't the final edited version, however, and I hope that is the case.  Other than that one thing, I thought this anthology was truly well done and one for my rainy day shelf.  (Those are my favorite books I save for rainy days when I want to sit and snuggle and read all the best parts again.)  A great gift for all your romance loving people in your life.

Here is the back copy:

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed brand new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection. A collection unlike any other, readers will love this compilation of six sweet historical romance novellas, set in varying eras, yet all with one thing in common: Romance.

The Road to Cavan Town by Sarah M. Eden, set in 1864 Ireland, combines Eden’s sense of humor with her signature sweet romance. Alice Wheatley walks each weekend into town, accompanied by Isaac Dancy. And while Alice finds herself falling in love with the gentleman, unfortunately he has his eyes set on the belle of the town, Miss Sophia Kilchrest. Alice must find a way to turn Isaac’s eyes toward her.

Regency author Heidi Ashworth’s delightful story, It Happened Twelfth Night, set in England 1812, follows Luisa Darlington who discovers the man of her dreams, Percy Brooksby, isn’t in love with her as much as she thought he was. When Percy’s friend, the mysterious foreigner, Mr. Flynn, visits for the twelfth night holiday, he promptly sweeps Luisa off her feet, quite literally. Luisa is left catching her breath in more ways than one.

An Unexpected Proposal by Annette Lyon is a captivating romantic novella, set in remote Wood Camp, the snowy canyon of Logan, Utah, 1880. When Caroline Simpson is forced to thwart the aggressive advances of Mr. Butch Larson, she discovers that her long-time friend, James, has genuine affection for her. But as stubborn as Caroline is, she minimizes the feelings he’s awakened in her, and it takes almost losing James to admit her true feelings for him.

In Joyce DiPastena’s charming medieval story, Caroles on the Green, we enter England of 1151, in which Lady Isabel has a dilemma. She promises herself that she’ll marry the man who sent a ring hidden in her pastry since the man she truly loves, Sir Lucian de Warrene, has proved to be impossible and exasperating. To forget him, Isabel sets her eyes on other eligible men, only to face another confrontation with Lucian—who isn’t about to back off and leave her to her newest plot.

Donna Hatch’s enchanting novella, A Winter’s Knight, begins when Clarissa Fairchild’s coach just happens to break down in front of the most forbidding estate in the county, that of Wyckburg Castle, a place where young brides have been murdered for generations by their husbands. Clarissa is horrified yet curious all in the same breath. When she meets widower Christopher de Champs, Earl of Wyckburg, she must decide if she should flee or uncover the greatest secret in the county about her handsome rescuer.

In Heather B. Moore’s exciting turn-of-the-century story, A Fortunate Exile, Lila Townsend finds herself the victim of a broken heart—broken by the most notorious bachelor in 1901 New York City. If that isn’t bad enough, her father sends her to Aunt Eugenia’s remote farm where Lila must wait for her father’s anger to subside and the gossip columns to find new fodder. When Lila meets her aunt’s boarder, Peter Weathers, she discovers a man who isn’t afraid to stand up to her formidable family and take a chance on a woman with a sullied reputation.

My Book Was Reviewed & I Was Interviewed!

Just wanted to share my excitement at another review for All Fall Down by Sheila over at LDSWBR.  She also interviewed me on how this book came about and I share all my secrets.  You can read it here

As always, I'm grateful for people who take the time to review my books and interview me.  And when it's a good review, it's even better.  :)

Hope you're having a good weekend!

First Page Friday

So excited it's Friday because then we get another installment of First Page Friday!  If you would like your first page critiqued, please submit your double-spaced 12 point font first page to juliecoulterbellon@gmail.com.  We have two spots in November left.

As always, thank you to Ms. Shreditor and to M.R. Buttars for submitting.  I really enjoyed this piece.  See you next week!


The Entry
The Mark
by M.R. Buttars

Twelve-year-old Keera Shanksy sat staring out at the clear April sky above her. Her teacher’s droning voice faded further in the background as her thoughts lifted her above the uncomfortable desk and out the dirty, glass window.  She soared through the clouds, thrilling in the feel of their cool touch brushing against her skin. Surrounded by the azure sky, she breathed the crisp scent of freedom. She flew through the rays of sunlight that danced around her as the wind whispered in her ears.

She, the most powerful Lithian in the Universe, could fly to the stars if she wished. In the distance she caught the faint outline of the moon that was always present, even in the glaring light of the sun. She could almost hear its silvery voice shimmering across her mind and skin. She reached for it, hungry to answer the call she felt deep within. Her fingertips stretched forth and. . .

“KEERA!”

Her thoughts plummeted, with a sickening thud, back to harsh reality where she, a completely powerless Lithian, was in danger of flunking her Creatures of the Universe class. Not again, she thought with a small groan.

Bracing herself mentally, she met her teacher’s stern scowl. Ms. Peters loomed over her like a large bird of prey that had just spotted a particularly tasty morsel. Keera tried to swallow the lump in her throat and think what Ms. Peters had been asking. 

It had something to do with some sort of magical creature, obviously. Desperately, Keera glanced down at her large textbook, latching onto a picture on the cover. A large ball of fur stared up at her with wide, innocent topaz eyes. Of course! She remembered discussing moogleloofs.

Ms. Shreditor's Comments

This was a really whimsical piece. What really struck me about it was the wealth of sensory imagery. In the first paragraph alone, the author evokes sight, sound, smell, and touch. We smell the “crisp scent of freedom”; we feel the cool touch of the clouds against her skin; we hear the wind whispering in her ear. This highlights the all-important distinction between showing and telling. If the author had just told us that Keera was daydreaming in class, the scene might have felt generic. But this author makes it vivid with by touching upon multiple senses.  

I’ve written often about the importance of narrative momentum. A story needs to hit the ground running from the first sentence, and if it stops to ruminate on extraneous details, it will never get off the ground. In this story, there is immediate momentum. In fact, thanks to her vivid imagination, Keera gets off the ground immediately as her thoughts lift her above her desk and out the classroom window. This physical (or imaginary, to be more accurate) movement in the story keeps the reader moving.

I love how Keera’s self-image is so different in her dream world and in reality. When she’s flying through the clouds, she’s “the most powerful Lithian in the Universe.” When she’s being chastised by her teacher, she’s “a completely powerless Lithian.” This juxtaposition is really effective.

I do have a few comments regarding technical elements. In the fourth paragraph, Keera’s thoughts plummet “with a sickening thud.” The verb “plummet” denotes fast downward movement. We need another verb make actual impact (i.e., create the thud). Something like “Her thoughts plummeted and landed with a sickening thud...” might do the trick.

Inner thoughts are tough to execute in a story. In most cases, you want to express these in the first-person present. So Keera’s italicized thought in the last paragraph would read, “It has something to do with some sort of magical creature, obviously.” There may even be a way to rewrite it as third-person narration instead of as inner dialogue.

Lastly, be careful with nomenclature when writing a fantasy story. Names in this genre tend to be offbeat to enhance the magical feel, but it’s very easy to get carried away. I really like the name “Lithian.” However, when I first read “moogleloofs,” I was immediately reminded of “muggles” and “Hufflepuffs” in Harry Potter.

Otherwise, there’s not much I can pick apart here. The writing is generally clean and flows nicely. This one feels just about ready to me. 

Guest Author Thursday

I was very honored to be the LDSWBR Guest Author today.  It was titled, "What Do We Have to Fear?" and listed things that I am afraid of, in honor of the Halloween season.  (Seriously, I will never forget that snake.  Or the Eiffel tower).  It also asks some pretty important questions about rejection and insecurity that I would love to hear your comments on.

So, go here to read my post, then come back and tell me what you think.  What is holding you back? What do you have to fear?

Word Count Wednesday & a Flash Fiction Challenge

Well, my word count was zero again this week, but if I could count a list of interviews and publicity I've done for All Fall Down, that would boost it a bit I think.  I'm excited for you guys to see those in the next few weeks or so.

All right, so last week we talked about doing a flash fiction in the month of October to boost our word count and get our brains in the Halloween slash writing mode.  So here's your first challenge:


Write a flash fiction no longer than 400 words (post it in the comment section so we all can read it) and it must have the phrase, "the blood spatter made a strange pattern," somewhere in it.  I will be posting mine sometime later today.

(Also, please keep in mind that this is a family friendly blog, so no overly graphic stuff, okay?)

*rubs hands together*  Can't wait to read them!  (And we're still discussing prizes so don't worry.  We'll take care of you awesome writers out there.)

A 24 Conspiracy on Hawaii Five-O & Other Thoughts on Castle

Last night on Hawaii Five-O we had the funeral of Chin's wife Malia, who was played by Reiko Aylesworth.  Reiko, as every 24 fan knows, also played Michelle Dessler and wife of Tony Almeida.  I said in my evaluation of the season finale in May that it seemed the H50 writers were taking a page out of the 24 playbook when they had Chin choose who to save and of course, since Reiko does dead wife so well from her 24 days, she also died on H50.  The thing about it is, last night Carlos Bernard also was on Hawaii Five-O.  You know, the guy from 24 who was Tony Almeida---Michelle Dessler's husband.  And seeing him made my conspiracy writer's mind go nuts.

What if they did a 24 cross-over?  Wouldn't that be awesome!  I mean, if Malia had really been Michelle in deep witness protection and Tony had come to find her posing as that bad guy (I didn't actually catch the name of the guy he played on H50.  In my excitement at seeing him and the writing possibilities going through my head, it escaped me.)  But he finds out she's really been killed this time.  Jack Bauer comes in and we have a showdown with Jack and Steve over the best course of action for the mission and evidence Michelle had uncovered as Malia. (Like what if there's a biological weapon in the hospital basement or something.  What?  It could happen.)  Man, I would pay good money to see Keifer "The Velvet" Sutherland standing opposite Alex "Abs" O'Loughlin.  *le sigh*  Maybe we should ponder that moment for a little longer.

Okay I'm back.

My other wish would be to have Renee Walker still be alive and living in Hawaii waiting for Jack.  Ooh, there could be a love triangle with Jack and Steve.  All right, all right, I'm going too far.  But it would still be fun.  And Hawaii Five-O has gotten a tad soapy lately, (bringing back the dead mom etc.) so it could happen.  If not, maybe I'll have to start doing fanfic or something.

But the actual show last night was good.  It was back to the Hawaii Five-O I know and love.  Just the barest mention of his mother, they had Catherine on a mission of her own, Steve and the gang were emotional for Chin, yet professional for the case.  Although the boiling of the skull was gross.  And I appreciated the hostage scenes, since, you know, I just wrote a book about a hostage negotiator and did a ton of research on how that all really works.  But, yeah, I loved last night.  Car chases, mystery, and a cargument.  Ed Asner getting splatted by a semi was sort of gross, too, but he played a great character.  The old guy's still got it!  I'm glad they didn't show what was left of him after being splatted though.  But I thought it was odd that traffic was still going strong in the background after that.  Wouldn't the police have blocked off the road or something?  So they could remove the body?  Or did they want to flatten it a little more.  I think I just made myself gag a little on that thought.

So, long story short, two thumbs up for last night's show.

Castle was cute and fun and flirty.  Their secret romance looks were cracking me up.  Castle trying to get away from that amorous TV show host made me laugh, especially when Beckett thought he was in trouble and charged over there gun drawn.  Honestly the chemistry between Stana and Nathan is off the charts.  They're just so cute together.

The mystery wasn't bad either.  I called it to be Ms. Fogg, but I was wrong, so good job on that writers.  It was a complicated case, but so well done.  And the boys finally made up, so all is well with the family.  Awwww.  Taking a punch for someone makes up for a lot apparently.  I'll have to remember that.  Although I have to say purple does not look good on Ryan.  His clothes were hideous last night.  But it was funny when he put on "tinted moisturizer" to cover his black eye.  Ha!  The look on Esposito's face was priceless when Ryan said that.

So, last night's shows were excellent in my opinion, and I think I'm going to love this season.  Did you guys watch?  How was your weekend TV viewing?

Book Review: The Guy Next Door

Well, now that fall is here we can get back to our regularly scheduled blog, which means, book reviews on Monday, Castle/Hawaii Five-O reviews on Tuesday, Word Count Wednesday, Marketing and Publishing Advice on Thursday and First Page Friday.  It feels really great to get back on schedule.  And I can't wait for tonight.

Today's book review is The Guy Next Door by Kate Palmer.  I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  It starts out by introducing Eva Black and her fiance Sean.  Sean is from a rich family who is in the spotlight, regularly hosts dinners, that sort of thing.  Sean likes to coordinate outfits with Eva, pick out her china, and he has some other weird tendencies to manipulate her which I didn't like at all.  Eva tries to brush it off, but even she has some misgivings about how he treats her and their relationship.  The author did a good job at the emotional depth in this novel because even though I was bugged by how Sean treated her, I could see why Eva could justify it.  But I was completely pulled into Eva's life and invested in her character.  I love how the author made her so realistic and non-cliche.

Eva struggles throughout the book and she experiences a lot of character growth as she is still dealing with the loss of her parents, trying to plan a wedding without her mom, and, if that weren't enough, she goes through something pretty horrible (I won't give it away, but it's big) and comes to realize she has no one to depend on but herself.  Sean is distancing himself from her, her mysterious neighbor keeps dropping in and out of her life, and she can't find a job anywhere to top it off.  It seems hopeless and I thought the author did a tremendous job with the push/pull of Eva's decisions and choices.  I loved the mystery neighbor, Peter, but for some reason, when I imagined him in my head, with his ponytail and ability to appear at her door when she needed him, I thought he sounded more like a Ben than a Peter.  Haha!  I don't usually rename characters, but Ben just seems so comforting and yet mysterious.  Regardless, Peter was a great character and I liked seeing his interactions with Eva.

My only suggestion for this book was that while the author did great with the emotional layering, I felt like she could have drawn out the suspense and tension for the mystery beats of the book.  A couple of times I had to read the sentence over again because a major story beat just happened, and we're told about it in one or two sentences.  Like, we're reading along and then the next sentence just sort of randomly says some horrible thing that happened.  To give you an example without giving anything away, (we're spoiler-free here) it's sort of like, "She took a shower and made breakfast, then went upstairs where a bomb went off."  I would have liked to experience more of the tension. But, like I said, I was completely pulled in with the emotional stuff.  The author is really talented there.  And the suspense stuff she did have, once she got into it, was well done.  There's one scene on a roadside that was a combination of emotional and suspense which was definitely the author's forte.  I felt every anxious moment of that scene.  I also thought the ending, while satisfying, was a bit abrupt, so I hope there's a spinoff or sequel in the works so we can see how things turned out with Eva and the choice she made.  (Which also says I loved the character because I want more!  Well done, Kate Palmer!)

This is definitely a book you want to clear some time for, because you won't want to put it down.  A great debut for Kate Palmer and I'll be looking for more from her in the future.

Here's the back copy:

On the surface, Eva Black’s life seems practically perfect. The small-town kindergarten teacher is set to wed ambitious lawyer Sean Langley, and their plans for a dream wedding are well underway. Eva accepts that she will soon live life in the spotlight as a member of the prestigious Langley family, but can she overlook her fiancé’s tendency to dominate the details of her life and push the limits of her standards?

 Mere weeks before the wedding, Eva is thrown into a traumatic, life-changing event that changes her view of family commitment and creates a sharp contrast between her ideals and Sean’s. With her engagement to Sean in jeopardy, Eva finds herself relying on the support and encouragement of Peter, her kind and attentive next-door neighbor. Faced with a choice between her penitent fiancé and the increasingly mysterious Peter, Eva is unprepared for the consequences—and peril—that come with her decision.